Jimmy Webb - El Mirage
Our Price: $12.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $6.50 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: Jimmy WebbEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-04-04
Music Label: Collector's Choice
Soundtracks:
- Highwayman
- If You See Me Getting Smaller
- Mixed-Up Guy
- Christiaan No
- Moment In A Shadow
- Sugarbird
- Where The Universes Are
- P.F. Sloan
- Dance To The Radio
- The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
- Skylark
Free Music Notes for El Mirage
Free Music Review: Career songwriter's best contribution as a recording artist
Hit: 4 Stars
Best known for writing hits that other artists made famous ("Up Up and Away," "Wichita Lineman," "MacArthur Park" and "Didn't We," to name a few), Jimmy Webb kept a pretty low profile as a recording artist, though not by choice. This album, as the excellent Collector's Choice Music liner notes describe, was his last concerted attempt in the 1970's of coming up with hit material that he himself recorded. Although history has shown that El Mirage really didn't succeed in garnering Webb a huge audience or any hits for himself, such results don't really reflect the excellent quality of the album. In fact, though the album wasn't a hit, a number of its songs did continue Webb's trend of providing hits for other artists.
The album's first cut, "The Highwayman," is one of the very best of the lot, emphasized by its later success by country super-group the Highwaymen. It's a mysterious narrative that links numerous colorful characters together. Webb's rough-around-the-edges voice fills each role excellently, supplemented by lush strings and French horn. These production values typify the entire album--lots of instruments, smooth textures, and plenty of backing vocals. It's easy to understand that Webb was going for some mainstream chart success and thus chose to outfit his record with as much pop trappings as possible, but the slick production works better on some songs than on others. Some of the less memorable songs are made to sound fairly dated by the production, proving that some modes of production and arrangement from the 70's have translated to modern times a bit better than others. Still, good songwriting shines regardless of production, and there are plenty of fine songs here.
"If You See Me Getting Smaller..." is mellow pop gold, matching many similar Eagles-esque tunes in quality, and is really enhanced by the female vocal arrangement. Other highlights are "P.F. Sloan," the heartfelt tribute to Webb's fellow songwriter (a song whose impact is only slightly dulled by the fact that Webb had already previously recorded it), and the gorgeous ballad "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress." Some songs don't work quite as well, like the disco-inflected "Mixed-Up Guy" and the somewhat out-of-place synthesizer-heavy closer, "Songbird (A Meditation)."
Overall, El Mirage is one of Jimmy Webb's very strongest solo recordings, easily proving that he deserved recording success matching his songwriting success. I'd especially recommend this album and artist to fans of Jackson Browne, Elton John, and Warren Zevon (Webb's rough voice often reminds me of a less dark version of Zevon's) and any of the other mellow rock coming from the West coast in the 70's. If you think that genre's got nothing left to show you, Jimmy Webb may change your mind.
El Mirage Poster
Jimmy's one and only album for Atlantic featured George Martin production and the song 'Highwayman' that turned into a goldmine for Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash (and Webb, too, can you imagine the songwriting royalties this guy gets?)! A Collectors' Choice Music exclusive!Pop Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Heard it about the Radio--songs about radios, DJs, etc
Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade (DIG)Release date: 2007-09-25; Music CD
Best price: $10.49
Price in other shops:
Toby Keith - Toby Keith, Greatest Hits 2Release date: 2004-11-09; Music CD
Best price: $6.24
Price in other shops:
Harry Chapin - Greatest Stories LiveRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $7.31
Price in other shops:
Van Morrison - The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3Release date: 2007-06-19; Music CD
Best price: $8.58
Price in other shops:
Mary Black - ShineRelease date: 1997-03-18; Music CD
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
Marc Cohn - Burning the DazeRelease date: 1998-03-17; Music CD
Best price: $3.43
Price in other shops:
Brian Setzer Orchestra - The Ultimate Collection: Recorded LiveRelease date: 2004-07-13; Music CD
Best price: $12.75
Price in other shops:
Jimmy Webb - El MirageRelease date: 2006-04-04; Music CD
Best price: $7.69
Price in other shops:
Donna Summer - On the RadioRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $10.46
Price in other shops:
Rosanne Cash - Black CadillacRelease date: 2006-01-24; Music CD
Best price: $6.23
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue - Legacy EditionRelease date: 2008-06-17; Music CD
Best price: $10.95
Price in other shops:
LIVE AND AT LARGEby Jimmy Webb
Published: 2007; Music CD
Best price: $27.99
TuneSmith: Inside the Art of Songwritingby Jimmy Webb
Hyperion; Published: 1999-09-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.27
Price in other shops:
Glen Campbell - Reunion: The Songs of Jimmy WebbRelease date: 2001-10-09; Music CD
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
Jimmy Webb - Suspending DisbeliefRelease date: 2006-04-04; Music CD
Best price: $4.19
Price in other shops:
Jimmy Webb - Twilight of the RenegadesRelease date: 2005-08-16; Music CD
Best price: $7.41
Price in other shops:
Jimmy Webb - And So: OnRelease date: 2006-04-04; Music CD
Best price: $7.09
Price in other shops:
Jimmy Webb - Words and MusicRelease date: 2006-04-04; Music CD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Jimmy Webb - Land's EndRelease date: 2006-04-04; Music CD
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Jimmy Webb - LettersRelease date: 2006-04-04; Music CD
Best price: $7.83
Price in other shops: